Automatic screening and filtering apparatus



Sept. 10, 1935. w scH 2,013,971

AUTOMATIC SCREENING AND FILTERING APPARATUS Filed May 4, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Williaunfiazsflz MFZZ A TTORNEYS Sept. 10, 1935. w sc 2,013,971

AUTOMATIC SCREENING AND FILTERING APPARATUS Filed May 4, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR William Raisc71/ BY Me A TTORNEYS Sept. 10, 1935. w. RAISCH 2,013,971

7 AUTOMATIC SCREENING AND FILTERING APPARATUS Filed May 4, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 /8/ I /r0 B6 3 I36 II- B5 /7/ /37 M- 0. WI vrz m" 4 /73 [79 IE9 A54 F /42 /74 o O //40/ I /75. #9 O #3 I /45 /4 I I I I I I I I I I I I 7 L INVENTOR BY WL'ZZia nz Raz's 07L ATTORNEYS Sept. 10, 1935. w sc AUTOMATIC SCREENING AND FILTERING APPARATUS Filed May 4, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR I ViZZicmz 1861 15070 Y A M QM A TTORNEYS' Patented Sept. 10, 1935 'il UlTED STATES PATNT OFFIQE AUTOMATIC SCREENING AND FILTERING APPARATUS William Raisch, Forest Hills, N..Y., assignor to Municipal Sanitary Service Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application May 4, 1928, Serial No. 275,115

17 Claims. (Cl. 210-196) This invention relates to sanitation as effected Another feature lies in the operation. of the by sewage disposal, and has for an object the sewage-cleansing apparatus to ordinarily take provision of a method and means for eliminating care of the usual normal so-called domestic the hazard to public health consequent upon the sewage, but to instantly meet the emergency of emptying into rivers and bays of sewage which handling storm water which runs-into the street 5 pollutes such waters to a dangerous degree. corner basins during a storm, and empties into It is well understood that where improper rethe sewer. The automatic adjustment of the duction of pollution per unit of measure prevails, apparatus to normal and abnormal conditions, danger of the contraction of disease by bathers and its change from a normal operation proporat the seashore, or by inhabitants of towns furtionately to the increased actuation called for 10 1 ther down a river below other towns that empty and to the abatement of abnormal requirements, sewage into the stream, is too real to be neglected. marks the closeness with which it suits itself to Accordingly, attempts have been made to so the unavoidable fluctuations.

finally eject the sewage into a natural water basin That the screen may be operated with high or course that such sewage-will be distributed efiiciency, appropriate cleaning brushes are pro- 15 throughout a comparatively extensive area, or in vided together with operating means therefor;

a river current, with a view to diluting it. Ex- These brushes are controlled to recondition the perience, however, indicated that this method was screen prior to succeeding cycles of operation, so not entirely efficient, and to it was added a process that all the cycles are equally effective.

of screening the sewage before it was emitted Other advantages and features appearing here- 20 I from the sewers. While this resulted in an iminafter are obviously phases of the present inprovement in sewagedisposal, it, in turn, has vention, and are to be so regarded. left more satisfactory results to be yet attained. In the drawings,

Hitherto, the screens employed in sewer systems Fig. 1 is a vertical central section through a have either allowed the passage of too great a well, which is equipped with the automatically 25 percentage of solid matter, or on the other hand, controlled screening and filtering apparatus, have become clogged by it, in the latter instances some of the parts being shown in elevation;

effecting a backing up of the sewage, and re- Fig. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus shown insulting in its overflow into the streets and into Fig. 1; cellars of adjacent buildings. In some instances, Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of portions of the 30 the screens have been in danger of collapse. The apparatus as shown in Fig. l, but with a part of present invention introduces screening apparatus, the screen shown in section, and with the doors and an automatic regulation of its operation, of the electrical cabinet thrown open; whereby its performance is controlled in corre- Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view, on a still spondence with the sewer conditions as they greater scale, of portions of the disc and cone of -35 develop in the natural way. the screen showing the formation of the mat on The improved sewage-cleansing apparatus of the former; this invention also generates a penetrable mat Fig. 5 is another fragmentary View, showmg the of the major solids of the sewage, which mat apertures in portions of the disc and cone;

functions as a filter, whereby, while the aqueous Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation through the disc- 40 I portion of the sewage percolates through the cleaning brushes, and. the operating mechanism natural filtering mat, the minor solids are 001- therefor;

lected by and with the major solids, and the total Fig. '7 is a vertical view of the cone-cleaning mass so accumulated is removed entirely from the brush and its controlling mechanism, partly in sewer. section, as indicated by the line 1-7, of Fig. 8; 45

Arrangements have been made to cause a cessa- Fig. 8 is a view of the cone-cleaning brush and tion of the operation of the novel sewage-cleansing its operating mechanism, as viewed at right angles apparatus, when the sewage level is low and its to Fig. 7;.

flow is negligible. Also, such operation auto- Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view of the electrical 5O matically takes place at increased or diminished devices and circuits included in the apparatus;

rates, in accordance with the variance in the and volume of sewage passing through the sewer at Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view through different times, as at different hours in the day, the motor controlling switch. 7 and on certain days of the Week as compared with Referring to the drawings, 1 represents a well,

other days. into which an infiuent channel. 2 empties, and 55 i from which an effluent channel 3 leads. In the well, extending somewhat above the bottom thereof is a mound-like foundation 4, and extending substantially across the top of the well I is a bridge 5. Mounted on top of and anchored to the foundation mound 4 is a bearing casting 6, provided with a lower screen shaft bearing I. An upper screen shaft bearing 8 is mounted in the framing of the bridge 5. As seen in Figs. 1 and 2, the bridge framing includes two longitudinal I-beams 9 supported at the left in the wall of the well I, and at right by another I-beam I0 arranged transversely of the longitudinal beams. A pair of spaced I-beams I I also extend transversely of the longitudinal beams 9 in the left hand portion thereof and support the upper bearing 8. The upper end of the inclined shaft I2 of the screen is mounted in the bearing 8, while the lower end of this shaft is journalled in the lower bearing I.

Mounted on the shaft I2 to be rotatable is the rotary screen, which comprises what is termed a disc I3 and a cone I4. The disc I3 is in the nature of a flat perforated ring of considerable width surmounted by the hollow perforated trun- .cated cone I4. The disc I3 may be made up of sectional plates I5 arranged as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the plates I5 being provided with slots or apertures I6, shown better in Fig. 5.

The cone I4 is preferably constructed of an- .nularly arranged ribbon wire, which may, in effect, correspond to hoops I? forming the convex contour of the truncated cone, the wire hoops being of successively less diameter as they progress upwardly, and also being spaced from each other by amounts substantially corresponding to their own thicknesses to form elongated slots IT between the inclined struts I4'. The proportion of the free open area in the disc I3 is to that of the cone I4 as l to 2, approximately, in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, for reasons that will become apparent hereinafter.

Due to the inclination of the shaft I2, the screen is tilted so that its toe, i. e., the lowermost portion of the circumference of the disc I3, is submerged in the sewage to a degree that positions this portion of the disc in proximity to the bottom of the infiuent channel 2. Where the channel 2 debouches into the well I, the lower end of a sectional fixed ring I8 has its inner circumference closely fitted to the periphery of the disc I 3. The fixed ring I8 is anchored to the concrete formation, and continues to follow the periphery of the disc I3, whereby the disc fits into the inclined circular opening so formed and with the screen cone I4 constitutes a screen barrier, which the incoming sewage must encounter before any of it can pass from the well I to the effluent channel 3.

The disc I3 rests on and is secured to an underframe I9, as shown in Fig. 1. A commercial channel, having upper and lower flanges and bent to form a circle, is used as the external circumscribing member of the underframe I 9, the outer marginal edges of the plates I 5 of the disc I3 being secured to the upper flange of the circular channel.

At the toe of the screen disc I3, the lower flange of the outlining channel of the underframe I9, as shown in Fig. 1, rests on a plurality of rollers 20 (only one of which is shown), the rollers being mounted on brackets 2| that are positioned on and anchored to the concrete. Thus, the submerged portion of the disc I3 is kept in properly fitting relationship to the fixed outlining ring I8, and, in times of increased hydraulic pressure, is adequately supported.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, an electric motor 22 is installed on an extension of the L-shaped bridge, and has its shaft joined through a coupling 23 with a shaft on which a worm 24 is rigidly mounted. Driven by the worm 24 is a worm gear 25 fast on and revoluble with a shaft 26, which is seen in both Figs. 1 and 6. The lower end of the shaft 26 is journalled in a bearing 2'! that is mounted on a side wall of a pedestal 28, which is emplaced on obliquely disposed beams 29 of commercial form. The beams 29 are parallel with the inclined plane of the disc I3, their upper ends bearing on a metallic plate or seat 30 and being anchored to the concrete disposed therebelow. At their lower ends, the beams 29 rest on inclined seats on the casting 6, and are secured strongly in place. Above the bearing 21, a spur gear 3| is rigidly affixed to the shaft 26 and is in mesh with another spur gear 32 on a short shaft 33. The gear 32 drives a gear ring 34, which is mounted on the web of the external circular member of the underframe I9 of the screen, thereby revolving the screen in an anticlockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2.

That portion of the disc I 3 of the revolving screen which is seen in the upper portion of Fig. 2, and which is above the level I indicated in Figs. 1 and 3, moves down toward the level I until it reaches a line s-s of submergence, indicated in Fig. 2. At this moment, there is a zero static head on the portion of the screen that is coincident with the line ss of submergence. The level I is established as the maximum level to which domestic sewage will rise, from which it will be seen that the level of submergence may, and often will, be at some lower level, as at H, G, F, E, D, C, B or A. For the purposes of the present explanation, however, the sewage will be assumed to be at the level I.

That peripheral point of the screen disc I3 which is coincident with the line ss of submergence will, at the moment referred to, be affected by a zero static head. As the screen continues to turn, this peripheral point will reach its lowest possible position, so that it becomes the toe of the screen, at which time it will be at the bottom of a static head AI indicated in Fig. 3. Further revolution of the screen reduces the static head until it again becomes zero. It is accordingly evident that for handling normal domestic sewage, the range of levels of sewage will be between the heights A and I.

Were the screen to be revolved at uniform speed for all levels, as has heretofore been the case, three conditions would obtain, 1. e., one in I which the sewage would flow too freely through the screen and fail to relinquish a proper amount of its solids; another wherein the lack of sufficient speed would cause excessive accumulations of solids on the screen seriously clogging it; and an intermediate condition of more or less satisfactory operation. The preponderating operation, in such case, is, however, unsatisfactory.

To eliminate the unsatisfactory operation and to improve the partially satisfactory functioning of the screening apparatus, a regulation of the operation of the screen has been provided. An improved comprehension of this regulation will result from an inspection of Fig. 3, wherein in the toe of the screen disc I3 is seen to be at the level A. The sewage will be approximately at this level, for example, during that part of the night when residences and factories are silent, or upon Sundays and holidays. At the level B, a somewhat increased influx of sewage has oocurred, and further increases in the intake of sewage into the sewer raises itsheight successively to the levels indicated at C, D, E, F, G, H and I.

When at the level I, the domestic sewage has reached a height, which is just below the bottom aperture in the screen cone M, and this is considered the maximum level for the disposal of domestic sewage, when it is at the greatest height in its normal fluctuations. At the level I, the domestic sewage covers all of the apertures in the screen disc it which are allotted to the maximum normal operation of the apparatus. Should the sewage rise still higher, when it reaches the level J, the screen will be operated at its maximum rate to hold the level of the sewage .down.

Reference will now be made to the screen operating means. Mounted on the bottom of a pit 35 that, as shown in Fig. 1, extends below the bottom of the influent channel 2 is a vertical float tube 36, having a horizontally disposed inlet tube 3], which extends toward the toe of the screen disc it and is flared at its mouth, the tube 3? tending to exclude solids by making it easier for them to flow toward the screen disc l3. Within the tube 36 is a float 38 to the upper end of which a flexible cable is attached. The top of the float tube 36 is closed by a cap it that is apertured for the passage of the cable 39, upper and lower stops ti and Q2, respectively, being fast on the cable above and below the cap 46 to co-act therewith in limiting the possible movement of the cable. The continuation of the cable which extends above the upper stop M is in the nature of a flat strap provided with predeterminedly located holes 43 adapted to be engaged. by pins Ml annularly spaced around the groove in the periphery of a sheave iii, as seen in Fig. 10.

The sheave 15 forms part of a dial switch 46,

which, as shown in Fig. 10, has a base plate 57 of insulation. Fastened to the front face of the insulating base ill is a recessed casting -8, while axially aligned therewith on the opposite side of the base and bolted thereto is another casting it.

.. A central stud 58 has a reduced portion extending through the rear casting is, a lock-washer and a nut iii being applied to the threaded end of stud 58. Thus, the shoulder between the larger and smaller diarnetered portions at the left ot the stud 5& is tightly drawn against the rear casting it, and the stud 553 projects outwardly from the front face of the insulating base til.

Seated in the recess in the front casting 48 is an end thrust ball bearing 52, another such end thrust bearing 53 being inset in the lower end of a rigid arm 5d, which has its upper end bolted to the insulating base ll. Mounted on the stud 58 between the end thrust ball bearings 52 and 53 is the hub 5d of the sheave 45, this hub containing a roller bearing 56 that rides easily on the stud 5B.

Fastened to the inner side of the sheave 45, so as to extend radially from the sheave hub is a brush-carrying arm M, on which are spaced contact brushes 58, 59, 68, 61,232, 63, 54, 65, 5 and 5'! as shown in Figs. 9 and 10. The brushes 58 to El inclusive have permanent electrical connection with the arm 5'5, but this arm is insulated from the sheave t5, which carries it. As best seen in i Fig. 9, the brushes 58 to M inclusive are adapted to individually engage fixed arcuate contacts 58, 69, W, ll, l2, l3, l4, "l5, l5 and il that are mounted on the insulating base M, as shown in Fig. 10. The base ll and the dial switch 46 are mounted .in a cabinet 18 shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the cabinet beingv provided with doors 19 for closing a compartment in which the switch 46 and other units are installed. Other doors 80 close a smaller upper compartment in which resistances that are later referred to are installed. In the larger com- 5 partment which contains the dial switch 46, other switches are conveniently mounted, and are included in circuits which are described fully hereinafter.

The flexible flat strap 39 passes through the floor that supports the cabinet 18 by extending through a vertically arranged tube 8!, shown in Figs. 1 and 3. After passing over the sheave 45, the flexible strap 39' passes through another tubular passage 82, shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and has a counterweight 83 attached to its lower end. With the described arrangement, whenever the level of the sewage changes, the float 38 rises or falls, as the case may be. There is a consequent vertical displacement of the cable 39 and its perforated strap extension 38, the pins 64 on the periphery of the sheave 65 being displaced by the strap 39 into which they project. As the sheave 55 is correspondingly turned with exactness, the brush contact arm 5'5 is similarly turned, and this in accordance with the level of the sewage.

If, for example, the height of the sewage is at the level A, indicated in Fig. 3, the rotary brush arm 51 will be in the position shown in Fig. 9. Tracing the control circuit in that figure, from the line conductor 8 to the long arcuate fixed contact 68 of the dial switch 46, it is found that the circuit extends through the rotary switch arm 5'! to all of the contact brushes, 59 to 61 inclusive. But, none of these brushes is electrified, since there is no return path to the other side of the line of the control circuit.

Under these circumstances, current in the power circuit will not flow, since the circuit breaker 85, shown in Fig. 9, will be open, as it is of a type. which has an actuating solenoid in the control circuit, which must be energized to operate the circuit breaker to close the power circuit.

Assuming, now, that the sewage rises to the level B, shown in Fig. 3, the accompanying rise 5 of the float 38 to that level causes the cable ae te" to be moved up, the counterweight 83 moving down. The holes 63 in the flexible strap 39 carry the pins M on the sheave 35 around an amount corresponding to the rise of the sewage to level B, as will be understood from Figs. 3 and 10. Referring again to Fig. 9, the brush arm 51, which is on the sheave d5, will have moved from the position a to the position 17.

Accordingly, current will now flow from the control line conductor $6 to the circular fixed current supply contact 63, through a part of the arm 5?, passing by the brush 59, that bears on the curved fixed contact 6%, the current then going from the opposite end of contact 69 by a conductor 86 to the winding Bl of the circuit breaker solenoid. The current continues to flow by a conductor 88 to a switch 89, that is kept closed to render the apparatus operable and proceeding from switch 89 by a conductor 99 to the other control line conductor 9!. The energization of the coil 8? of the circuit breaker 35 causes the latter to close the power circuit.

As a consequence, current in the power circuit will flow from the power line conductor 92, shown in Fig. 9, through one bridge 93 of the circuit breaker 85, thence going by a conductor 94 to and through a resistance 95, a closed switch 96, another resistance 9?], a switch 98, a resistance 99, a switch 108, a resistance ,HJI, a switch |02,-

a resistance I03, a switch I04, a resistance I05, a switch I06, a resistance I 01, a switch I08, a resistance I09 and a switch H0. From this last switch the current goes by a conductor I I I to the electric motor 22, returning therefrom to the other power line conductor H2. The electric motor 22 is, therefore, operated with all the resistances 95, 9?, 99, IOI, I03, I05, I07 and I09 included in the power circuit.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 6, it is seen that the motor 22 drives through the worm 24 and worm gear 25 to operate the shaft 26, so actuating the spur gears 3I and 32 to drive the ring gear 34, and hence the rotary screen comprising the disc I3 and cone I4. The rotation of this screen will be slow and in proportion to the flow of sewage.

In a similar manner, if the sewage rises to the level C, shown in Fig. 3, the float 38 will correspondingly rise, the flexible cable 3939 proportionately turning the sheave 45 to turn the brush arm 51 until it is in a position 0, indicated in Fig. 9. The brush 60 on the arm 51 will then bear on the curved contact I0, and the current will go from control line conductor 84, through arm 5'! and brush 60, to curved contact I0, from the opposite end there-of by a conductor I I3 to and through a solenoid winding a of switch 95, returning therefrom by a conductor II to the other control line conductor 9i.

Energization of the solenoid winding 96a shifts the bridge-contact 90' against the influence of a spring from the contacts 90" to the contacts 90 of the switch 96. This results in current flowing from the power line conductor 92 through the bridge 96' and contacts 96", a conductor IIB, resistances 9?, 09, IOI, I03, I05, I01 and I09, the switches 90, I00, I02, I04, I06, I08 and H0 still having their upper contacts closed and their lower contacts open. As before, the current goes by conductor III to motor 22, from which it returns to the other power line conductor H2. Thus, the resistance 95 is cutout of the power circuit and the motor 22 operates at a somewhat increased speed, as does the rotary screen I3I4.

In the same manner, the float 38 will rise to other levels D, E, F, G, H, I, and J when the sewage so rises, due to increased intake thereof, though such intake will fluctuate in accordance with the demands made upon the sewer. Reference to Fig. 3 shows that predetermined levels have been selected to exercise a desired control of the motor 22 that drives the rotary screen I3I4. Inasmuch as it is desired to utilize only the disc I3 of the rotary screen to take care of the normal domestic sewage, the levels are established with increasing closeness as the static head of the sewage increases. The levels E to I inclusive are quite closely spaced, whereby the speed of the screen driving motor 22 will rapidly accelerate to restrain the rise of the sewage in a manner to be explained presently. As each successive upper level is reached, a successive resistance 91, 99, IN, I03, I05, I07 or I09 is cut out of the power circuit in the way already explained in connection with resistance 95.

When during the operation of the apparatus, the sewage level falls, the solenoid of the double throw switch which last closed its lower contacts, as, for example, the switch III], will become de-energized. Thereupon the switch spring, as IIIlb, will cause the switch bridge, as III) to move from the lower pair of switch contacts, as IIO, to the upper contacts, as H0", again placing the resistance, as I09, controlled by that switch back into the power circuit. This slows quent upon the level the sewage attains, so that 10 a natural filtering mat of sludge II! is built up on the submerged portion of the screen disc I3, as shown in Fig. 4. Thus, with the sewage at the level B, all of the resistance units 95 to I09 inclusive are included in the power circuit, and

the motor 22 effects a slow turning of the rotary screen I3--I4. With the comparatively slow rate of flow of the sewage when it is at the low level B, shown in Fig. 3, the correspondingly slow rate of rotation of the screen disc I3 gives sufficient time for the sludge mat I I? to form on the disc.

When the sewage rises to the level C, its greater volume is accompanied by a somewhat faster rate of flow. If there were no increase in the rotary speed of the disc I8, too much sewage would flow 25 through its submerged portion in a given time interval, and too much sludge would accumulate on the screen disc, tending to clog it. Since, how ever, the screen is rotated at a proportionately faster speed, the rate of passage of sewage through the interstices of the submerged portion of the disc I3 is substantially the same as it was at the level B. As a result, the natural filtering mat is formed substantially as before.

For the levels D, E, F, G, H, I and J, the increases in the speed of rotation of the disc I3 is variously faster proportionately to the increasing rapidity of flow of the sewage, whereby substantially the same thickness is preserved in the natural mat of sludge. proper proportioning of the disc I3 and its apertures IS will cause the mat of sludge to be of such consistency that, while the aqueous part of the sewage passes through the mat, the finer solid particles are caught by and combined with the mat. The sewage that passes from the well I and through the efliuent channel 3 is, accordingly, very much cleaner by reason of the filtering by the natural sludge mat. Levels E, F, G, H and I are spaced but short distances apart, so that To eliminate the collected sludge, rotary brushes are employed and included in the apparatus in the following manner. As seen in Figs. 1 and 6, a rotatable brush-carrying spider I I8 is mounted on and keyed to the shaft 26, and is provided with hollow radiating arms H9. Each of these arms is internally provided with a pair of bearings I 20, in which a shaft I2I is mounted. At their inner ends, the shafts I 2i are provided with bevel gears I22, which mesh with a non-rotatable bevel gear I23 that is rigidly mounted on top of the pedestal 28,

Rotation of the shaft 20 by the motor 22 causes the rotation of the brush spider H8 and its radiating arms IIS. As the shafts I2I necessarily accompany the arms H9, the bevel gears I22 on the inner ends of shafts I2I, because of meshing with the non-rotatable bevel gear I23, rotate themselves and their shafts I2I.

Extending beyond the ends of the brush spider In view of this, a 40 arms H9, each shaft vI21 enters a-gear case I24,

and within the same each shaft carries a spur gear I25 rigidly mounted on it. Each gear I25 meshes with another spur gear I26 fasten a shaft I21 that is also journalled in the same gear case I24. Outside and beyond the gear casesI24, the shafts I21 carry cylindrical brushes I23.

As seen in Fig. 2, the arrangement is such that, when in their disc-cleaning positions, the brushes I28 sweep in a partially radial manner across the perforated disc I3 of the'rotary screen. Thus, the brushes I28 travel across the disc I3 from its inner to its outer margin, brushing and propelling the accumulated sludge into the entrance of a circular passage I29, which has upturned inner and outer flanges I 30 between which the brushes travel after leaving the disc I3 and before passing upon it again.

As the rotary brushes I28 approach the limit of their travel toward the right in Fig. 2, they sweep their respective quotas of sludge into a chute I3I and then into a suitable receptacle I32,

which may be of any form that best serves for the removal of the sludge.

The apertures I6 in the disc plates I5 are variously disposed to be best presented to the cleaning brushes as the latter change their direction due to having an annular path of travel.

During storms a considerable quantity of storm water enters the sewer, and the .level of thesewage rises materially above the level I that is voluminous as to seek to rise higher than the level K, shown in Figs. 1 and 3, it will escape through a weir I33 in the wall of the well I, as seen in Fig. 1.

The apertures in the cone I4 are kept clean and open by a cylindrical brush I 34, shown in Figs. 1, '7 and 8. Thus, the sewage that passes through the cone I4 is allowed to do so freely,

inasmuch as the admixture of the normal sewage and the storm water represents a highly diluted sewage, which is unobjectionable.

There being no need of a constant use of the a cone-cleaning brush I34, it is mounted to occupy That it 1 its full line position shown in Fig. '1. may occupy this position, it is provided with a peculiar mounting. As seen in-Figs. 1, '7 and 8, a bearing casting I35 is mounted on the underside of the bottom flanges of a pair of spaced apart parallel I-beams I36. As shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, the I-beams I36 are disposed obliquely with respect to the bridge longitudinal beams 9.

Fig. 8 discloses two downwardly projecting block guides I31, slidably. mounted in each of v,

operating solenoid of a switch I59, and to the othergcontrol line conductor 9|. -The pivoted 65 member-I68 of the switch I59 is thus thrown into which is a bearing block I38. Extending from one to the other of the blocks I38 is a shaft-like pivot I39, shown in section in Fig. 7. Mounted on the pivot I39 with ball bearings is the upper end of a bracket I48, which has a plate-like body portion MI and a flange I42 that projects beyond both sides of the body portion. The flange I42 is substantially L-shaped, as shown in Fig. '1, and

- flares outward in both lateral directions to form a mounting seat I43.

Beyond the seat I43, as viewed in Fig. '1 the body portion I of the bracket is provided with an upwardcurling extension I44, and attached to the extension before it begins is an upper shaft bearing I45. The body portion I4I widens and 7 also has a lower extension I46 on which is mounted a lower shaft bearing I41. Journalled in and '5 extending through both the upper and lower bearings I45 and I41, respectively, is a shaft I48, on the lower end of which is mounted the conecleansing brush I34.

Passing above its upper bearing I45, the shaft m I48 enters a gear housing I43, and carries a worm Wheel I50, meshing with which is a worm I5I that is fast on a shaft I52, which is connected through a coupling I53 with the shaft of a brush-operating motor I54.

The center of gravity of the assembly which" includes the bracket I43, the cone-cleansing brush I34, the motor I54 and the drive therefrom tothe brush is so located that the brush swings 1 away from the screen cone I4, when the brush is zo not being used, conserving the brush and lengthening itslife. Inasmuch as the screen cone I4 is not brought into use until the normal maximum level of the sewage is exceeded, it is not until the resistances 95 to I69, shown in Fig. 9, have all25 been cut out of the power circuit that the cone cleansing brush is used. When this happens,the float 38, shown in Figs. 1 and 3, will have risen above the level I shown in the latter figure, whereupon the arm 51 of the dial switch 46 shown go in Fig. 9, will have been moved toward its posi-' tion 7', in the previously described manner, to cause its brush 61 to bear on the fixed curved contact 11 that corresponds to the level J of the sewage. I I 1-35 Current then flows from the line conductor 84 of the control circuit tothe fixed curved contact 68, through arm 51 and its brush 61 to the fixed curved contact 11. It then proceeds by conductors I55 and I55 to and through the solenoid wind: ing I Illa ofthe double throw switch II8, and by a conductor I51 back to the other line conductor 9| of the control circuit. This causes thebridge IIil of the switch to leave the contacts I I0 and engage the contacts IIB', whereby the current flows fromthe line conductor 92 of-the power" circuit to conductor III and the screen-driving motor 22 back tothe other power line conductor I I2, driving the screen operating motor=22 at full speed. At the same time, they current in the,,

, control circuit conductor I also goes to the winding of a solenoid I98 of a retarded cut-off I64, and thence'by a conductor ISI to the other .relativelylong arcuatefixed contacts 194 and ll95.

Current accordingly fiows'from the control line, conductor 84 by a conductor I96 to the fixed switch contact I95, through the'switch arm I33 to the other fixed switch contact I94, then going by a conductor I31 to the winding 158 of the contact with thefixed switch-member ISI. 7 A branch of the power circuit is thereby closed a from the power line conductor 92 through-a conductor I52 to and through the members I6I and J63 of the now closed switch I59, thencegoing by a conductor-163 to a conductor I66 and through alifting solenoid I61 and therefrom by a conductor I68 back to the other power line conductor II2.

Referring to Fig. '7, the casing of the lifting solenoid is carried by a bracket I69 that is bolted to a framing member I19 of the bridge 5. The core of the lifting solenoid is connected to and operates a cross-piece I1I, pivoted to which is a clevis I12. Screwed into this clevis is a rod I13, which at its lower end is screwed into another clevis I14, but with a reversed thread, so that there is a resulting link which may have its length varied for adjustment purposes. Pivoted to the lower clevis I14 is the upper end of another link I15, the lower end of which is pivoted to the curved upper extension I44 of the body portion I4I of the bracket I40.

It is thus seen that the energization of the lifting solenoid I61 swings the bracket I40 about its pivot I39, and thus carries the cylindrical brush I34 against the screen cone I4 in parallelism with its inclined surface.

Again examining Fig. 9, the conductor I63 is seen to carry the power current to the brush operating motor I54- simultaneously with the energization of the lifting solenoid I61, the current returning from motor I54 by a conductor I16 to the power line conductor I I 2. The resulting operation of the motor I54 will, as shown in Fig. 7, drive the motor shaft and through the coupling I53 turn the worm I5I and the worm wheel I50. This revolves the shaft I 48 and the cylindrical brush I34, which, since it now lies against the sloping wall of the cone I4 cleans it and keeps its interstices open.

As soon as the sewage falls to the level I, the consequent operation of the dial switch 46 effects the de-energization of the solenoid I90, whereupon, a spring I98 attached to one arm of the double-arm lever I 93 rotates the latter clockwise. A link I99 pivoted to the other arm of the switch lever I93 accordingly pulls on the piston rod of a piston 200 in a dash-pot 20I. The movement of the piston is retarded, since the fluid in the dash-pot which it displaces has a restricted flow, due to the setting of the needle valve 202 in a pipe system 203 which connects opposite ends of the cylinder of the dash-pot 20I, and contains a check valve 204. The retarded disengagement of the movable switch arm I93 from the fixed elongated switch segments I94 and I95 keeps the solenoid I58 energized after the brush arm 51 has moved its contact 61 off the contact 11 of the dial switch 46, which would ordinarily de-energize the solenoid winding I58 of the switch I59, open the circuit and cause a cessation of the operation of the motor I54 and the cone-cleaning brush I34. Instead, however, the retarded opening of the switch comprising the contact members I93, I94 and I95 keeps the solenoid I58 energized, which holds the members I60 and IBI engaged and the power circuit closed, until the piston 200 in the dash-pot 20I slowly moves far enough to allow the switch arm I93 to pass off the curved segments I94 and I95.

When the switch arm I 93 moves from its open position to engage the contacts I94 and I95, as the solenoid I90 is energized, the dash-pot piston 200 moves toward the right. The check valve 204 prevents the fluid from passing through the pipe system 203, causing it to flow through another pipe system 205 that contains a check valve 206. There being no needle valve in the pipe system 295, the flow of the fluid is relatively rapid, permitting a prompt closing of the switch comprising members I93, I94 and I 95.

Accordingly, though the switch I59 opens as described, when the sewage reaches the normal level, current is still supplied to the lifting solenoid I61 and the motor I54, whereby the cylindrical cone-cleansing brush continues to function for a short period after the contacts 61, 11

have opened. Hence, with the sewage at ab-- 5 normal height, if its fluctuations tend to cause the brush motor I54 to stop almost as soon as it starts, the continuance for a short period of the flow of current through conductors I63 and I66, solenoid I61 and motor I54 will insure that the brush I34 will still be held against the cone I4, and the motor I54 will continue to drive the brush until the portion of the cone of the rotary screen that contacts with sewage reaches and is cleaned by the brush irrespective of how quickly the sewage recedes from a motor-operating level. If desired, it may be arranged to cause the conecleansing brush I34 to be operated for one or two revolutions of the rotary screen every time the brush operating motor I54 becomes energized, or for any other suitable number of revolutions, or part of a revolution.

Each bearing block I38, shown in Figs. '7 and 8, is provided with threaded rods I18 at its opposite ends. These rods project through opposite ends of the block guides I31 and have hand wheels I19 threaded thereon, the wheels also co-acting with the guides, whereby the bearing blocks I38 may be adjusted to so position the bracket I48 that the brush I34 will lie properly against the screen cone I4. Non-uniform adjustment of the blocks I38 in the different guides I91 will produce a limited rotary adjustment of the brush I 34, while uniform adjustment of the blocks in the same direction move the brush to bring it into closer or less close relationship to the cone I4.

That the bracket I49 and the brush I34 may hang properly the body portion I4I of the bracket is provided with an ear in its upper portion to which the lower end of a rod I80 is pivoted. A 40 casting I8I spans and is rigidly mounted upon the framing I-beams I36. The rod I80 passes loosely through the bottom wall I82 of the casting I8I, and through a vertically disposed cylindrical cup I83 that extends upward therefrom. Within the cup and encircling the rod I 30 is a helical spring I84, on top of which an inverted cup-shaped cap I85 rests, the rod I00 passing loosely through the cap. Screwed on the upper threaded portion of the rod I80 is a handwheel I86, which bears on top of the cap I85. It is screwed up or down to regulate the spring I84, whereby the consequent pull of the rod I89 on the bracket I40 will, in connection with the previously referred to adjustments, give the bracket I40 and the brush I34 the proper hang.

The threaded portion of the rod 589 also passes loosely through an upper cross-bar I81 of the casting I8 I, and another handwheel I 88 screwed onto the rod I80 below the cross-bar I81. The position of the handwheel I 88 is such that it engages the underside of the cross-bar when the brush I34 has swung away from the screen cone I4 by the desired amount.

Also screwed onto the upper end of the rod (35 I80 is still another handwheel I89 that is positioned on the rod at a place which will cause the underside of its hub to come into contact with the top surface of the cross bar I81, when the lifting magnet I61 has drawn the brush I34 into proper contact with the screen cone I4.

It is obvious that the apparatus herein set forth is comprised of rugged and durable elements not calculated to get easily out of order. The automatic control and regulation of the apparatus permits of a minimum of attention to it, and its self-adjustment to all the conditions with which it is required to deal not only promotes efficiency in operation, but avoids periods of necessary remedy and repair that would result without such automatic adaptation. The automatic cessation of operation of the apparatus,

and parts of it, when there is no requirement for its and their use makes for economy. Removal of the increased amount of material, due partly to the use of the natural mat formation, results in the discharge of a liquid that is robbed of undesirable matter whereby the efiluent fluid is in satisfactory condition.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is manifest that various alterations and adaptations may be indulged in, and the apparatus put to any other use than that described for which it is adapted, without departing from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In apparatus of the class described, a structure forming apassage for fluid, a movable foraminous barrier in the passage having portions for the passage of fluid at different rates and adapted to prevent passage through said barrier of certain substance in the fluid, operating means for said barrier, a control therefor operable according to the level of fluid in the passage, and cleansing mechanism for said different portions of said barrier that for one portion being operable only when the fluid rises above a given level.

2. In apparatus of the class described, a structure forming a passage for fluid,a movable foraminous barrier having portions for the passage of fluid at different rates and adapted to prevent passage through said barrier of certain substance in the fluid, operating means for said barrier, a control for said operating means actuable in accordance with various levels of the fluid, and different cleansing means for said fluid-passing barrier portions one being operable only after fluid passes through one of said portions, and another being operable and inoperable coincidently with the actuation of said barrier.

3. In apparatus of the class described, a receptacle through which fluid flows at various levels, an inclined rotary screen comprising a disc portion extending substantially to a minimum level for the fluid and above a normal maximum level therefor and an annular laterally projecting portion extending above said normal maximum level, means controlled by the fluid at different levels to rotate said screen at varying speeds to form a filtering mat on said disc portion of substance in the fluid, cleansing means for said screen portions, that for said disc portion operating concomitantly with the rotary screen, and that for said laterally projecting portion being operable when the fluid is at a higher level than said normal maximum level.

i. In apparatus of the class described, a rotary screen having an annular ioraminous wall adapted to accumulate substance from fluid flowing therethrough, means for rotating said screen, brushing means for cleansing said wall, a hinged support for said brushing means hinged to swing about a single axis, operating means for said brushing means carried by said support, and means to swing said support to bring said brushing means into and out of parallelism with said wall as it respectively engages and disengages the wall.

5. In apparatus of the class described, a rotary screen forming a foraminous frustu'm adapted to accumulate substance from fluid flowing therethrough, means for rotating said screen, brushing means for cleansing said frustum, a pivoted support for said brushing means arranged to 5 hold said brushing means out of engagement with said frustum, operating means for said brushing means mounted on said support, and means including a solenoid operable to draw said brushing means into engagement with said frus- 10 tum.

6. In apparatus of the class described, a rotary screen having different portions including a conical foraminous wall, means for rotating said screen, an intermittently active brush device for-15 cleansing said conical wall, the portion of said screen to which the brush device is applicable being normally out of fluid that passes through another of said screen portions, and operating means for said brush device including a sepa- 20 rate motor, said operating means being actuated when excess fluid flows through said conical forarninous wall.

'7. In apparatus of the class described, a rotary screen through difierent port-ions of which fluid 25 is adapted to flow with diflferent degrees of continuity, mechanism for rotating said screen, a motor for riving the same, a brush device, means for intermittently contacting the same with said screen, a separate motor for operating said brush 3 device, and means operable in response to an excessive flow of the fluid to simultaneously actuate said intermittent brush-contacting means and said motors and to actuate only the motor for said screen-rotating mechanism during a normal 5 flow of the fluid.

8. In apparatus of the class described, a rotary screen forming a foraminous wall through which fluid is adapted to flow, operating means for said screen, a brush device for cleaning the screen. wall normally out of contact therewith, motor driven actuating means for said brush device, and electro-magnetic means operable to effect engagement of said brush device with said screen Wall.

9. In apparatus of the class described, a rotary screen forming a foraminous wall through which fluid is adapted to flow, operating means for said screen, a brush device for cleaning the screen wall tending to remain out of contact therewith, operating means for said brush device including a motor, electro-magnetic means operable to effeet the engagement of said brush device with said screen Wall, electrical circuits for said motor and electro-magnetic means, making and breaking means for said circuits, and a retardation device connected with said circuits and effective to delay the opening thereof after said making and breaking means act to open them.

10. In apparatus of the class described, a ro- 6O tary screen forming a foraminous wall through which fluid is adapted to flow, operating means for said screen, a support, a pivotal mounting therefor, a brush device mounted on said support, actuating means for said brush device, pressure-exerting means acting on said support to tend to position the brush device out of contact with said screen wall, means to move said brush device. into contact therewith, and adjustable elements limiting the movement of said brush device.

11. In apparatus of the class described, a rotary screen forming a foraminous wall through which fluid is adapted to flow, operating means for said screen, a support, a pivotal mounting therefor, a brush device mounted on said support, actuating means for said brush device, pressureexerting means acting on said support to tend to position the brush device out of contact with said screen wall, means to move said brush device into contact therewith, adjustable elements limiting the movement of said pivoted support and brush device toward and from said screen wall, and adjusting means for said pivotal mounting operable to displace the pivot of said support to cause the latter and said brush device to be adjusted inwardly, outwardly or in a rotative manner.

12. In apparatus of the class described, a rotary screen forming a foraminous wall, a hanging support, a pivotal mounting therefor, a brush device mounted on said support, actuating means for said device, a solenoid and pressure-exerting means respectively mounted on opposite sides of the pivotal axis of said support and adapted to move the latter in opposite directions, and adjusting mechanism to maintain said pivoted support and the brush device thereon in a balanced position when said solenoid is de-energized, the solenoid being capable of overcoming said pressure-exerting means.

13. In apparatus of the class described, a rotary screen, cleansing means therefor, electrical operating means for said cleansing means, a control for said operating means, and retarding means operable to delay the cessation of operation of said operating means when said control is actuated to efiect such cessation.

14. In apparatus of the class described, a duct for the passage of a stream of liquid therethrough, a foraminous barrier traveling across said duct, said foraminous barrier having one portion through varying areas of which the stream passes for normal variations of flow and a second portion through which the liquid flows more readily and which is used when said stream rises to abnormal levels, means for increasing the rate of travel of said barrier as the stream rises and decreasing such rate of travel as the stream falls, and means for removing from the foraminous barrier matter accumulated thereon.

15. In apparatus of the class described, a duct for the passage of a stream of liquid therethrough, an inclined rotary screen forming a barrier across said duct, said screen comprising an annular portion through varying areas of which the stream passes for normal variations of flow and a central portion through which the liquid passes more readily and which is used when said stream rise to abnormal levels, means for increasing the rate of rotation of the screen as the stream rises and decreasing such rate of rotation as the stream falls, and means for removing from the rotary screen matter accumulated thereon.

16. In apparatus of the class described, a duct 5 for the passage of a stream of liquid therethrough, an inclined rotary screen forming a barrier across said duct, said screen comprising an outer annular portion through varying portions of which the stream passes as it rises and falls 2 and a portion adjacent to the inner edge of said annular portion through which the liquid passes more readily than through said annular portion and which is used when the stream is above a predetermined level determined by the width of said annular portion, means for increasing the rate of rotation of the screen as the stream rises and decreasing such rate of rotation as the stream falls, and means for removing from the screen matter accumulated thereon. 3Q 17. In apparatus of the class described, a duct for the passage of a stream of liquid therethrough, an inclined rotary screen forming a barrier across said duct, said screen comprising an annular portion through varying areas of which 5 the stream passes for normal variation of level and a central frusto-conical portion through which the liquid passes more readily and which is used when such stream rises to abnormal levels, means for increasing the rate of rotation of the screen as the stream rises and decreasing the rate of rotation as the stream falls, and means for removing from the screen material collected thereon.

WILLIAM RAISCH. 

